Chess Puzzle #4AxK8 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1100 · Beginner · endgame, long, mate, mate in 3.

Position

White: king h2; rook a7; bishop d4; pawns a3/e3/f4/g2/h3. Black: king e6; rook c2; bishop f3; pawns a6/e4/g6/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kg3 — king h2→g3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxg2+ — rook c2→g2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh4 (king g3→h4).
  3. Best move: g5+ — pawn g6→g5, gives check. Opponent replies fxg5 (pawn f4→g5, captures pawn).
  4. Best move: hxg5# — pawn h6→g5, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with hxg5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/R7/p3k1pp/8/3BpP2/P3Pb1P/2r3PK/8 w - - 1 35

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Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.